"The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox" is a fairly good film. It's a cross between classic Hollywood and the then more contemporary comedy stylings that were coming into vogue in the late 60s and 70s. That is to say the humor is blue, and less suggestive than it is explicit, yet at the same time very smart. And perhaps because of this the film's tone is probably a little misunderstood.Even though the film was shot widescreen there's a definite TV budget feel about it. There's more coverage than can be expected from a made for TV film, but the shots themselves are typically those used in non-theatrical productions, giving the film a kind of uneven feel.For what the film is the humor is pretty sophisticated, which I think has some of the other commentators (specifically those who gave negative reviews) a bit confused. For a comedy that opens with a dance hall scene laden with sexual innuendo one might not expect the gags to be as sophisticated as they are. A viewer might get the impression that the humor will be blue, but not just blue, but explicitly blue. But that's not the case here. The humor, though suggestive and occasionally profane, is actually pretty smart, and on that score is actually quite funny. Now, if you can accept all that, and like your humor with lots of wit, then this film should entertain. In short the humor is smarter than one would expect. You have to approach watching this film with kind of mindset to really enjoy it :-) If I had one gripe with the film it'd be the ending. As climatic as it was it felt a little flat and open ended. It's also a bit implausible, even for a comedy, but a film like this really needs a happy ending... of sorts. On that score the ending should've been a little more plausible, but it is what it is.If you like your films smart, then try not to be too swayed by the negative comments, and give the film a chance by renting it once. It's not a film that has a lot of big sight-gags, but there's enough here that should entertain.Enjoy :-)

OK, so the movie stinks. But I too saw this as a young boy when it was new in the theatres and I have to admit the thing I remember was Goldie - truly lovely and sexy, and dressed up in all manner of provocative attire to entice the simple folk in the film. If you're a Goldie fan, and like me believe she's an inspiringly sexy creature, you'll want to at least survey this curio. Goldie in fishnets and skimpy dancehall costumes can't be ALL bad!

There's a tragic air about this putrid film, and the reason is simple: it STINKS like a Dead Possum! The comedic talents of Goldie Hawn and George Segal are wasted miserably on a poor script with thoroughly unlikeable characters (Goldie plays a mean-spirited, bar room whore -- who's bright idea was THAT??? -- and George is a cranky card shark who seems to really need a bath). What should have been a rollicking hour-and-a-half of wisecracks and bellylaughs is instead an embarrassment. The film's jokes are lousy and the tone is uneven -- it's a mixed up mess as it jumps from trying to be clever, to exciting, to funny, and even to romantic -- and nary a bullseye in the bunch. Every shot is misfired. Nuthin' but rotten eggs. And it all seems "thrown together"... The result is a film that's just a horrible bore. Just when you think it won't get worse, there is a "love scene" (in a boat going down a river) during which the most vomitably maudlin of movie songs kicks in, "Lemon Drops, Lollipops and Sunbeams" (I kid you not about that title. And if the title isn't cloying enough, you should only HEAR how sickly sweet this tune is! Oi Vei!!!)...to add insult to injury, the song reprises itself over the end credits, as if sounding once in the film wasn't punishment enough for a weary audience. When you hear it again, it's like a bad smell that you thought you'd escaped only to find you've run across it again...I can't give this film low enough marks. It takes "mediocrity" to new lows. And that's because this film isn't even the kind of "bad" that's fun to watch (and heckle). It's Just BAD. Painfully BAD. Hawn and Segal have both proven their merit as comic talents many, many times over in various funny films (Hawn in "Foul Play" and Segal in "Where's Poppa?" just to name two). "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox" must be a project they would both rather forget... I know I wish I could!

The 'comedy' western is a bit like a situation comedy with horses and six shooters thrown in and a bit of action in case the laughs are thin on the ground. and in this movie the laughs (and the thrills) are as thin on the ground as grass in a desert.George Segal tries hard in the 'lovable rogue' lead - a sort of bargain basement 'Maverick' but he is undercut by a poor script and the millstone of Goldie Hawn - who does little beyond flash her red undies at the camera at every opportunity as if this might distract the viewer from the meagre contribution she makes to the movie.This is the West That Never Was beloved of peddlers of cliche and writers of cheap 1960's and 70's TV series, with the intendedly humourously amoral lead duo pursued about a pretty landscape by the gang that couldn't shoot straight and sundry other less than menacing foes.Notable is the lack of 'name' supporting players any of whom might have upstaged Ms Hawn by showing comedic talent, rather than legs. Rating: A sonorous 3 out of 10